A influência do fósforo na toxicidade de cobre e composição bioquímica de Chlorella vulgaris

Abstract

Metal toxicity to microalgae is dependent on environmental conditions, evolutionary history of the microalgae, and previous exposure of the organism to the specific metal. Also, it is importantly influenced by the physiological condition of the algae in the moment of metal exposure. In this research we investigated several combinations of phosphorus (P) and copper (Cu) concentrations on the biochemical composition and Cu toxicity to Chlorella vulgaris. Due to its known toxicity, copper was considered in its free Cu2+ ions specie. Because microalgae physiology reflects the environmental conditions, but it also stores some of the inorganic nutrients, previous to Cu spike in the cultures, the algae were acclimated to each treatment s specific P concentration to be tested in combination with Cu. We considered cells were acclimated to a specific P concentration after its growth rate had been stabilized for at least four generations, always transferring the cells while in the beginning of the exponential growth phase. Biomass and physiological parameters analyzed were cell number (cell.mL-1), chlorophyll-a concentration, dry weight, lipid classes (Iatroscan TLC/FID), and total cellular proteins and carbohydrates at several combinations of P/Cu. The P concentrations tested were 5.0x10-5, 2.5x10-5, 5.0x10-6 and 1.0x10-6 mol.L-1 and the free Cu2+ ions concentrations ranged within 1x10-10 and 5x10-8 mol.L-1, and were determined through ion selective electrode (ISE). Our results showed that Cu toxicity to C. vulgaris increased at low P. Carbohydrate, protein and lipid productions were in general triggered at low P and high Cu, with some exceptions. TAG was the lipid class most affected by stressing situations. AMPL and PL were the lipid classes with the higher percent composition amog the classes; HC, WE and ST were present in minor amounts even under stressing situations.